KFC Introduces Meal Box That Doubles As A Smartphone Charger (indianexpress.com) 77
An anonymous reader writes: KFC has introduced a limited edition 5-in-1 Meal Box to select KFC outlets in Delhi and Mumbai. The box has one mighty special feature: it will charge a user's smartphone while they eat. The company has partnered with a Mumbai-based digital agency, Blink Digital, to make the "Watt a Box" concept a reality. In terms of specs, the box features a built-in 6100 mAh power bank, and two USB-ports with the ability to charge Android smartphones and iPhones. KFC has launched a contest on its Facebook page, giving users a chance to win the box. You can watch the "Watt a Box" promo video here on YouTube.
Marketing People (Score:2, Flamebait)
Just as dumb and out of ideas all over the globe.
Re:Marketing People (Score:5, Interesting)
Batteries and fat fryers. What could possibly go wrong?
Actually this would also make a nasty attack vector for blackhat people who could easily get employed at KFC during the promotion to rig boxes to steal customer info or brick phones.
My advice; never trust a fast food place for your wifi or charging needs. Keep those random and personal.
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Re: Marketing People (Score:1)
Power on the data pins might hurt.
Re:Marketing People (Score:5, Interesting)
I deal with risk management daily. The factors KFC is considering here are pretty interesting but they are probably going to target advertisements to the phones for sure -- I mean that's a given that some kind of phone home device will happen -- permissions or not.
They may ask you to sign up to something for charging and then pair your device with their network. That's possible.
All the free wifi networks are kind of tracking people like this now anyway and if they aren't they are missing some interesting fingerprinting.
One vector is a USB mount attack [youtube.com] which leaves the user unable to defend their microsd data. Sure if you're an IT expert you may be able to protect against it with proper configs, but KFC is targeting nightclub people basically who won't go home so they need to charge their phones after the bars. Stop at KFC for greasy food and a quick charge... boom. pwn'd.
The device this guy is talking about could be rigged to send certain things through an open wifi or on a lower cost budget, the blackhat goes through the garbage later on and grabs all the boxes out to recycle them. KFC may even ask that users recycle the boxes, which would make mr. blackhat's job even easier.
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At KFC, I would be a lot less worried about USB attack vectors than I would be about pooping myself before I could get home.
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Don't you think that maybe that makes you more prone to seeing problems where none exist? Like a solider who comes back from the war and sees explosive devices everywhere.
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Re:Marketing People (Score:5, Informative)
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Of course people have different ideas of what is important. Some people will argue that a device isn't properly hacked until you can get root access to it and run arbitrary software.
I'm not particularly worried about that as long as I can shut down and do a clean install on the box. The operating system itself doesn't contain anything they can't just from anybody else.
What I am more worried about is an attacker getting sensitive data from my phone. If they can read out my phone book from the USB port and/or
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They could take "freshly cooked" to the max if you receive the chicken uncooked, and push a button on the box to fry it at your table or in your car on the way home.
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See:
https://www.maximintegrated.co... [maximintegrated.com]
They plan a USB firewall (Score:1)
Kaspersky Labs tries to crowdfund a USB charger "antivirus/firewall" which will ship for $25
https://blog.kaspersky.com/pur... [kaspersky.com]
Google has taken some precautions with the mighty powerful ADB interface such as warning users and disabling even the option to display the screen where you enable it but there are several ordinary end users who wonder around with it enabled.
I recently had to help a hotel bar's laptop computer, it had like 10-20 complete strangers private iPhone data backed up! Right, it didn't have p
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After eating KFC, I need a firewall in my pants.
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Google has taken some precautions with the mighty powerful ADB interface
Wait, what? Google is using the Apple Desktop Bus?
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KFM (Score:2)
Kentucky Fried Marketers
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Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)
Just as dumb and out of ideas all over the globe.
And more lithium wasted on a single-use application.
yagottabekiddinme (Score:2)
wereallgonnaburninhell
Re:Don't eat this shit (Score:5, Informative)
KFC in India has many vegetarian dishes to choose from. In addition to fried chicken sandwiches and strips they have fried vegetable "strips" and fried vegetable sandwiches. They have several spicy chicken choices we don't have in US KFC as well that are quite tasty.
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I refuse to eat food out of a bucket on principal. What's next, the KFC Feeding Trough, where you and your family can eat and shit at the same time?
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It's a meal box. Unless you don't eat fast food at all or don't order food to-go from restaurants, surely you've eaten tasty food out of small cardboard boxes before. Personally I don't eat out of a bucket either because I'm snobbish about eating meat on a bone with my hands. I'm not caveman. I don't need to hold the bones of the animals that have been slaughtered for my nourishment. Usually only *that* kind of fried chicken is sold in buckets.
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/BELCH So, these charge boxes are grease-proof, right?
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"... I have eaten out of a dumpster, based on principal"
Meaning when you didn't have enough money, or was it those spelling errors on your resume?
so (Score:1)
the aim is to make your phone smell of greasy chicken as well?
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Video Violates Physics (Score:1)
Watch the video.
Notice the height of the box before it is opened.
Notice the height of the tallest item in the box after it is opened.
Marvel at the box of holding.
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Whadda deal!, you get:
1. Fried chicken
2. Phone charger
3. Mini-TARDIS
Dynamo Bikes... (Score:5, Interesting)
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There's a reason why every company sells products: Profit.
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There's a reason KFC is selling battery packs to poor (and hungry) people: Profit.
They might be hungry but are not likely to be poor! Not too many poor people eat at KFC in India. Fast food brands are positioned rather differently here.
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We do this in the UK also.... ...except the power is already in the KFC chicken itself, rather than a lipol batter pack. This project puts free to use dynamo bikes for the public to use. Plug your phone in, then burn a few calories charging it..... ideal if you've pigged out and want to burn at least some of it off!
This is a far better idea. After the big vote, will you still invite Europeans to come over and ride these?
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[...] a lipol batter pack. [...]
Lithium Polymer batter? Now that's a quick energy charge!
I'm confused (Score:2)
Re:I'm confused (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm more concerned about all these spent battery-containing boxes getting sent to the landfill.
Also, that commercial was pretty bad even by commercial standards.
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How likely are the staff to ensure no one accidentally throws away the box when they're done?
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You can keep the 6100mAh charger. The meal, including charger, costs about 149 rupees ($2.20).
Re:I'm confused (Score:5, Funny)
Like you, I'm not exactly certain watt they are talking about. I am pretty amped up about it, but I predict the idea may meet with some resistance.
Still, I'd like to get one of these boxes and take it ohm.
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I believe they sell mostly chicken and vegetables. [mcdonaldsindia.net]
There was a scandal a few years ago when it was discovered that the grease that they use to cook their fries contained beef fat.
stupid and wasteful (Score:2)
Now this doesn't just include the food.
Do they recycle the box after each customer or is it throw away after use.
FFS Just put an induction charger in each table.
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You keep the 6100mAh charger.
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Powerbanks are great for on-the-go.
But I'm just not sure what benefit enclosing it in disposable cardboard brings, that's the gimmick - over just bundling a free 6100mAh powerbank with every purchase.
Great for westerners who get off the plane in Delhi and head to their nearest KFC, I guess - cheaper than buying one at the airport.
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A perfectly cromulent Anglo name, sometimes spelled 'Rowan'.
Also not uncommon in the Indian subcontinent.
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His older brother is named Gondor.
Re: Rechargeable? (Score:2)
It will be a nice layer of lithium for future landfill miners.
Re: Rechargeable? (Score:1)
If it doesn't pollute the soil and water resources. Lithium in form we use in batteries is nothing more than poison for the environment.
Watt the fuck? (Score:2)
That's all I got.
Se7en (Score:1)
They should get Brad Pitt as a spokesperson. "Watts in the box?"
Disposal? (Score:2)
So let me guess, when you're done eating, you just throw the box (and electronics inside it) away?
At least it's already in india, rather than needing to be shipped back there from here.
KFC Meal Box (Score:1)